THE DAVE GRIFFITHS COLUMN
19th AUGUST 2010
ON FIELD EXCELLENCE NEEDS TO BE BACKED UP BY OFF FIELD STEP UP TO THE PALE
One of the things that I consider to be a most needed show of faith towards a group of players and management team that quite honestly put the majority to shame by their loyalty, fine match play, and all round pride in wearing the shirt, is the inherent need for us off the hallowed turf to take a long hard look at ourselves, and say what individually can we do to give that little extra that will show appreciation, alongside the need in registering the fact, sacrifice made in many a case by turning down the "big shilling" from elsewhere is noted in terms of what we are as a club, (going the extra mile to build on that achieved during the previous term).
Personally, the bright lights of the Premiership take a back seat to what Non League gives in such abundance. A belonging that has disappeared from a hankering to watch the game at the highest level long since past, after watching the World Cup final of 1966 Wembley triumph, Manchester United winning the European Cup for the first time against Benfica, numerous F.A.Cup finals alongside watching the likes of Dennis Law Jim Baxter and that all time great Spurs side, no big draw is left in this direction for me.
Therefore, sleeves rolled up and lets get down to the task in hand here at Hargraves Park, this I consider to be working our socks off, fighting for the column inches, trying to attract the extra spectator to our game, encourage of Sponsorship in which ever shape or form, if we can collectively give that little bit extra then that's fine, with the chance of succeeding much increased.
Many and varied ways spring to mind, also do you know anyone who might be in a position to Sponsor a match ball for a home contest, full details of which will be coming out very soon, also provision for joining up as a club member (last season's membership was very reasonably priced, this time around will be no different).
An excellent investment springs to mind via a hoarding board pitch side, giving high profile coverage for the whole season. Moving on, have you time to help out at headquarters either on the match day or similar? So many little jobs need attending to, many hands make light work as they say.
All in all, help from which ever form available will be so warmly welcomed, but the lads out on the Park fully deserve our backing this to show not only our appreciation for their efforts, but a positive statement for us as a club to push on as a collective partnership, and needs to be put in place.
I have searched conscience to work that little harder toward the match Programme contribution, Editor Andy Taylor made a wonderful job last time around in 2009/10 and this time I will make sure the content level is bright, readable, and much much more, that is for starters we can move on from this base to bigger and better things.
Dave Griffiths
18th JULY 2010
MAGIC OF THE F.A.CUP JUST AROUND THE CORNER - 14th AUGUST 2010 AWAY TO KENTISH TOWN
Saturday the 14th of August 2010 sees the extra Preliminary Round of the 2010/11 FA Cup competition get under way and what is known to our players, management and supporters is that Stansted have been drawn away to Kentish Town, who play at the same step 5 level and are members of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.
If we are successful in this fixture, a home tie comes our way on Saturday the 28th of August against opposition that are both member clubs of our very own Essex Senior League. Winnable games for us yes, but also our opposition must fancy their chances of progression.
What is clear however, is the big big incentive is out there in the shop window in many shapes or form, but what has to be high on the Agenda is what it means to individual clubs and in turn its respective players, even if higher in the considered "food chain". The F.A.Cup might have lost some of its gloss down here at the "Coalface", things are markedly different amongst those who look for the big break that is out there in the market place, whilst others conceivably and quite rightly look for the "big moment" that they dream of.
The F.A.Cup has a magic all of its own. The financial inducement that comes with success in getting through realistically a couple of rounds, say for instance the Extra Preliminary and Preliminary Round are huge, the winners cheque an absolute God send, often keeping outfits in business for years to come on the back of a run that extends to progression in the qualifying rounds of the competition proper. Even given that these days the likelihood of the smaller clubs doing exceptionally well are on a reduced footing.
While it lasts, it is very much a "day in the Sun" for all of us. Media interest is high and indeed a wonderfull time. From personal recollection, I remember the time spent at Southern League Baldock Town as a club official, when after an exceptionall run took them to the 4th Qualifying Round replay against Enfield, which was eventually lost in heartbreaking fashion on Penalties. It was a brilliant time no question, beating some really good sides on the way including I remember Chesham United 3-1.
Enfield played "home matches" at St Albans City at those times and after the 1-1 4th Qualifying round draw, remember well the draw being made for the 1st Round proper. Success live on television, moments after the final whistle Baldock sadly never reached the promised land but came mightily close. The rest is history now, but after winning the penalty shoot out the E's long before the splitting of their respective ways to become more latterly Enfield 1893, went on to record success against football league Chesterfield in Round one proper of the F.A. Cup. Heady heights indeed, before bowing out against another league outfit Stockport County. Does not get much better than that, long remembered but never forgotten, the charisma breathtaking. Good luck lads, you could be writing the next chapters and your own respective name in folklore, well deserved it would definitely be.
Dave Griffiths
9th JULY 2010
PRE-SEASON A CRUCIAL PART OF THE NEW CAMPAIGN BUILD UP
I am personally delighted to have the opportunity via the medium of our club website to provide articles which after this first offering will appear on screen hopefully around a timescale of every seven days as an average and will be centred around a vast range of subject matter, some with relevence to our very own Stansted F.C. whilst other material will cover interest from elsewhere.
These will be my own findings and albeit in the main possibly the given view of the main stream of Hargrave Park thinking, they are in no way the official comment from within as given statement as is topical and extremely relevent with preperation now building towards the 2010/11 campaign in increased magnitude.
Saturday the 17th of July sees our first eleven on a Bedfordshire away day at SSML Premier Division side Langford FC, extremely essential to having things finely honed as a prelude to Essex Senior League action starting on Saturday the 7th of August.
This period of time can be extremely rewarding with opportunity to make new acquantances and visit clubs alongside League combinations not generally on our Agenda, whilst very much as is the case with Langford.
Delight at meeting old friends once more I will say with much positivity Pre-Season is a vibrant time, but feeling well qualified to make considered comment on towards this end after in excess of 20 years previous time envolvement as an out and out co-ordinator of clubs programmes during July and early August.
Much of the build up activity goes on well prepared from its original arrangement with finding and confirming fixtures between like minded parties sometimes carrying on from season to season as we have arranged with our friends from Langford at least to my knowledge for the last four July periods. However albeit F.A. legislation covers the standard of match official who takes control of a fixture higher up in the "pecking order" as it were, it offers no commitment at this stage as to how clubs conduct themselves during this period of time which I now see as a neccessity to operate a minimum standard policy that helps to protect the innocent from a small percentage minority of not so innocent, a disturbing trend which unfortunately has gained in its momentum in recent time.
This is across the board and should see the stamping out of what I call "Cherry Picking" and although will not make specific reference to certain cases I am already aware of during the present period it should not allow for arranging matches at certain venues to be dropped like a proverbial "hot coal" if a supposedly better offer comes along causing the injured party much distress and often with a financial tag to pick up.
Time will tell but to me this is a "Grey Area" that needs addressing, meanwhile carry on enjoying the summer sunshine.
Dave Griffiths